Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-02-04

Jnc ripe trult OF the thousands OF miles OF SHE
hills, I've had to tramp over because of Mr.
Bragg's retiring disposition Now, il he's got
the spirit of man he'll come out from under
the bed and fight me-
90, he'll come out-hel come out--never
you fear said Abe, sardonic as usual Hes
got day or two's leisure now to attend to
his business A hundred thousand of him
will come out. They'll swarm out o them
cedar thickets there like grasshoppers out of
timothy field
Boys" said Harry, returning after few
minutes absence, "the colonel says we'll go
into camp right here, just as we stand. Kent,
I'll take the canteens and hunt up water, if
you and Abe will break some cedar boughs
for the bed, and get the wood to cook supper
with"
Gan right" responded Kent, "I'll go after
the boughs"
THAT puts me in for the wood" grumbled
Abe. "And don't suppose there's fence
inside of n mile, and if there is there's not n
poplar rail in it"
"And doctor,n continued Harry, flinging
the canteens over his shoulders, you'll stay
and take cup of coffee and sleep with us
tonight, won't you3 The trains are all far
behind, and the hospital wagon must he miles
away
"Sccms to me that I've heard something of
the improperly of visiting your friends Just
about meal time" said the doctor quizzicaly,
"but cup of coffee Just now has more charms
for me than rigid etiquette, so I'll thankfully
accept your kind invitation. Some day I'll
reciprocate with liberulity in doses of qui-
nine
In less time than that taken by well APP
pointed kitchens TO furnish Hot Meals to
Order" the four were sitting on their blankets
around a comfortable fire of rails and cedar
logs eating hard bread and broilcd fat pork
aud drinking strong black coffee. which the
magic of the open air had Transmitted into
I delightfully."- delicate and reliShable viands
"You are indebted to me-" said Dr. Dens-
low, as lie finished the last crumb and drop of
his portion of his food, for the accession to
your company at this needful time of a tower
of strength in the person of Lieut. Joseph
Pancake"
Abe groanod; the doctor looked at him with
well feigned astonishment and continued:
"That gore hungry patriot, as you know,
has been home several months on recruiting
duty, by virtue of q certificate which he
wheedled out Of old Moxon At last, when
he couldn't keep away any longer he started
back, but be carefully restrained his natural
impetuosity in rushing TO the tented field, and
HIS Journey from 10 4NaSDNllle was n
fine specimen of easy deliberation. There
was not a sign of ungentemanly hurry in
any part of it, He came into my ward at
Nashville with violent symptoms of half
dozen speedily fatal diseases l was cruel
enough to see a coincidence in this attack and
the general marching orders, and prescribed
for his ailments thorough course of open air
exercise To be sure that my prescription
would be taken | had the provost marshal in
terest himself in my patients case, and the
result was that Pancake joined the regiment,
and so far has found it difficult to get away
from it It's the unexpected that happens,
the French say, and there is bare possibility
that he may do the country some service by
the accidental discharge of his duty
THE possibility is too remote to waste time
considering" said Harry.
They lay down together upon a bed made
by spreading their Overcoats and blankets
upon the springy cedar boughs, and all but
harry were soon fast asleep. Though fully
as weary as they he could not sleep for
hours. He was dominated by feeling that
crisis in his fate was at hand and aS be lay
and looked at the stars every possible shape
that that fate could take drifted across his
mind, even as the cndcssly varying cloud
shapes swept-now languidy. now hurriedly
across the domed sky above him And as
the moon and the stars shone through or
around each of the clouds, making the light
er ones masses of translucent glory. and gid
ing the edges of even the blacklist with sill
very promise, 50 the thoughts of Rachel
Bond suffused with some brightness every
possible happening to him. If he achieved
anything the achievement would have for its
chief value that it won her commentator !;
If he fell, the blackness of death would be
gllded by her knowledge that he died brave
mans death for her sweet sake.
He listened awhile to the riournful whinny
OF the mules; to the sound of artillery rolling
up the resonant pike; to the crashing of new
| ly arrived regiments through the cedars as
they made their camps in line of battle; to
little spurts of firing between the nervous
! pickets and at last fell asleep to dream that
he was returning to Sardis, manned but hon
or crowned, to claim Rachel as his exutant
bride.
The Christmas forenoon was quite well ad-
vanced before the fatigue of Rachel Bonds
long ride was sufficiently abated to allow her
to awaken. Then a soft hum of voices i'm
pressed itself upon her drowsy Senses and
she opened her eyes with the idea that there
were several persons iii the room engaged in
! CoH'tISdtlpn. Tuu Snc saw tnat there was
only aunt Debby, seated in a low rocking
chair by the lanly burning fire, and reading
aloud from large Bible that lay open upon
her knees
Rachel stirred little, and Aunt Debby
looked up and closed the book
I'm afcared I've reused ye up too soon,"
she said, coming toward the bed with look
of real concern upon her sad, sweet face. Il
| rayny didn't intend ter. ! jest opened the
book ter read the promise bout our Father
heedin' even sparrer's fall an forgot an
read on; an when | read, | must read out
loud, ter git the good of hit. Some folks
pretend they kin understand jest ez well
when they read ter themselves Mebbe they
kin"
"Oh no. replied Rachel cheerfully, you
didn't disturb me in the least 1t was time
that l got up, and was glad to hear you
read. I'm only troubled with the fear that
I've oversight myself and missed the duty